Little Egg Harbor man charged with hitting bicyclist then taking

A Little Egg Harbor man has some questions to answer after he struck a man on a bicycle and then fled the scene Wednesday in Long Beach Township.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and Long Beach Township Police Chief Anthony Deely announced that John Madden, 41, was charged with Assault by Auto and Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident.

Madden was also charged with the motor vehicle offenses of Driving Under the Influence Alcohol or Drugs, Reckless Driving, Leaving the Scene of an Accident and Failure to Report an Accident.

Police said that Daniel Bogacz, 63, Beach Haven was riding his bike northbound on Long Beach Boulevard when he was struck by a 2020 Jeep Liberty driven by Madden who then made a U-turn and took off down the road.

Madden was determined to be the driver following an investigation by Long Beach Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

Police said that Madden was also operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time he struck Bogacz.

He was arrested at his residence in Little Egg Harbor without incident and transported to Long Beach Township Police Headquarters for processing.

Bogacz was air-lifted to Atlantic City Medical Center where he is presently listed in critical condition.

This case is still under investigation and additional charges may be on the way for Madden.